Combating hatred together
Re: Anti-Semitism is not simply a Jewish problem, Martin Sampson, Nov. 1
Martin Sampson is quite correct when he writes that antiSemitism is not just a Jewish problem. Hatred and bigotry have visited numerous minority communities, sometimes, as we saw last week in Pittsburgh, with deadly effect. However, all too often, victimized communities are left to lick their own wounds with little beyond words being offered by others.
Surely it’s time for faith leaders to come together and collectively denounce violent hatred targeting minority communities. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, United Church, Lutherans, Baptists, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and the myriad of other faith communities in this country talk the talk but rarely walk the walk.
In a refreshing change from the norm, this weekend, Canadian Muslims in a gesture similar to what Canadian Jews undertook after the fatal Quebec mosque shootings of 2017, will gather at various synagogues across Toronto, enveloping them in “rings of peace.” It’s a great start but it must not be the finishing point, it should be the beginning. To this day the mainstream leaderships of both the Muslim and Jewish communities have yet to engage in any meaningful dialogue.
Perhaps out of the darkness and pain of the events in Pittsburgh can arise true dialogue between Muslims and Jews. Perhaps out of evil can arise real actions and not just words, from all faith leaders looking for a path to embracing each other in order to move from strength to strength.
Bernie M. Farber, Chair, Canadian Anti-Hate Network
At FAST (Fighting Antisemitism Together) we were devastated by the unspeakable attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh and stand with the Jewish community in denouncing this hate crime. We mourn the tragic loss of life and support the Jewish community here in Canada, as well as in the United States.
FAST was founded in response to a wave of anti-Semitic incidents in 2004. Established by a coalition of non-Jewish business and community leaders, it is dedicated to combating all intolerance, with anti-Semitism as a specific manifestation of it. We believe that anti-Semitism is a battle for nonJews to solve and that education is the best means to achieve the goal of eradicating this oldest hatred in history.
Together we can end hate.
Tony Comper, FAST founder and former president and CEO of BMO Financial Group, Nicole Miller, FAST executive director, Toronto